Commando 43-47312
Aircraft Identification
VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-60-CS Commando
USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 43-47312
CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 383
COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CK360
SAINT LOUIS PLANT LINE NUMBER: 2926
FATE: Written off
Operational Record
May 1945 to April 1946
43-47312 - USAAF (USA)
18 May 1945
Delivered from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Saint Louis, MO.
23 May 1945
Departed the USA for Karachi, Sindh, India.
April 1946 to 1955
1955 to June 1956
HP-217 - UNKNOWN OPERATOR (PANAMA)
1955
Purchased.
17 September 1955
Ferried to Panama via Prestwick, UK.
June 1956 to 1957
HK-851 - LIDCA (LINEAS AEREAS DEL CARIBE) (COLOMBIA)
5 June 1956
Purchased.
16 October 1956
Damaged at Bogota Techo, Colombia in an accident.
1957 to 1976
HK-851 - AEROCONDOR (COLOMBIA)
1957
Purchased.
16 October 1956
Damaged at Bogota Techo, Colombia in an accident.
Right: HK-851 in an early Aerocondor livery, Miami, FL.
Photo credit: AirlinersGallery / Bruce Drum
Below: once again in Miami, FL is HK-851 with new colors on 17 April 1972.
Photo credit: Airliners.net / R. A. Scholefield
May 1982 to December 1983
HK-851 - SELVA (SERVICIO AEREO DEL VAUPES) (COLOMBIA)
May 1982
Probably leased from Aeronorte.
1985 to 1989
HK-851 - SELVA (SERVICIO AEREO DEL VAUPES) (COLOMBIA)
1985
Either purchased or leased from Aeronorte.
1989 to May 2000
HK-851 - CORAL (CORONADO AEROLINEAS) (COLOMBIA)
1989
Purchased.
Right: HK-851 in CORAL colors, Villavicencio, Colombia, unknown date.
Photo credit: AirlinersGallery / Christian Volpati
Below, left: same aircraft, same place, 30 October 1991.
Photo credit: Flickr / Bates Aviation Reports
Below, right: HK-851 taxiing out in Villavicencio, Colombia for yet another cargo flight on 10 September 1994.
Photo credit: JetPhotos / Graham Dinsdale
Bottom, left: HK-851 & crew, Villavicencio, Colombia, 4 February 1995.
Photo credit: AirHistory.net / Paul Seymour
May 2000 to July 2000
HK-851-P - PRIVATE (COLOMBIA)
1 May 2000
Purchased by Rolando Medina Marmolejo.
9 July 2000
Damaged beyond repair in Villavicencio, Colombia in a takeoff accident (10/19 fatalities). [
Final Report]
Crew:
Rolando Medina Marmolejo, Captain
Henry Rodriguez Buendia, First Officer
Ricardo Rivera, Flight Engineer
The Commando was operating a combi flight from Villavicencio to Mitu, Colombia, with cargo and 16 passengers onboard, in addition to 3 crewmembers. The C-46 HK-851P was owned and operated by a private individual. It was certified to carry a maximum of 13 occupants. The aircraft took off at 08:23. Shortly after airborne, engine n°2 caught fire. The pilot attempted to return to the airport by executing a right hand turn. Speed dropped below VMCA, the Commando started sinking and hit the ground 3 km from the runway.
The investigation revealed that the Captain did not hold a valid medical certificate, that the airworthiness certificate was expired, that the fire bottles were empty, and finally that the aircraft was certified to carry a maximum of 13 occupants.
Below: two shots of HK-851-P in Villavicencio, Colombia on 8 May 2000.
Photo credit: Flickr / Alex Waning
Last edited: 28/10/2022